Adjective declension after the definite article (nom./acc.)
Adjektivdeklination nach bestimmtem Artikel (Nom./Akk.)
After the definite the takes -e in the , and -en in the masculine and throughout the plural.
Structure
der/die/das + Adjektiv + -e/-en + Nomen
der/die/das + adjective + -e/-en + noun
Details
- Part of Speech
- Adjective
- Word Type
- Adjective declension
- Register
- Standard
Explanation
After the definite article (der/die/das), attributive adjectives take the weak endings -e or -en. Because the already shows gender and , the only needs a light ending.
In the and the split is clean: -e stands in the of all three genders and in the feminine and neuter ; -en stands in the masculine and throughout the .
| masculine | der gute Mann | den guten Mann |
| feminine | die gute Frau | die gute Frau |
| neuter | das gute Kind | das gute Kind |
| die guten Kinder | die guten Kinder |
- Der kleine Hund schläft. - The little dog is sleeping.
- Ich kaufe den roten Apfel. - I'm buying the red apple.
- Sie liest das neue Buch. - She is reading the new book.
Common mistakes: The masculine is the trap: den großen Mann (-en), even though the is der große Mann (-e). The always takes -en.
About Adjective declension after the definite article (nom./acc.)
After the definite the takes -e in the , and -en in the masculine and throughout the plural.
der/die/das + + -e. : die/das stay -e, but masculine 'den' takes -en. The always takes -en (die guten Männer). Weak .
Nach dem bestimmten enden im auf -e, im maskulinen und im ganzen Plural auf -en.
Caution
-en appears in the masculine accusative and in the whole plural: 'den großen Mann', 'die großen Männer'. Everywhere else -e: 'der große Mann', 'die große Frau', 'das große Kind'.